Research finds diabetes slows the brain

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the oil-rich Gulf states.

The Gulf's staggering population of diabetes sufferers could be suffering more than just physical difficulties; their mental abilities are being affected as well, according to new research.

Scientists have found that adults suffering from type-2 diabetes - also known as adult-onset diabetes - demonstrated slower speed of thought than equivalent healthy adults.

They were also worse at planning and paying attention, although they scored the same in tests for memory, verbal fluency and reaction time.

Populations of Gulf countries suffer from record levels of diabetes, mainly due to poor diets and lack of exercise leading to obesity.

Dr Yousif Al-Nesef, Kuwait's assistant undersecretary for medical services at the Health Ministry said that about 10.8 percent of Kuwaiti men and 11.6 of Kuwaiti women are diabetic.

Bahrain's Health Ministry assistant under-secretary for training and planning Dr Fawzi Amin says 27 percent of the island's population have developed the condition as adults.

The UAE has stated that 19.5 per cent of the population has diabetes.

The research was conducted by a team from the University of Alberta in Canada. It tracked 41 people with type 2 diabetes and 424 without to make the finding.

The study, published in the journal Neuropsychology, found that the mental deterioration was no better in younger adults with diabetes than in an older group, suggesting that the damage is done early in the disease and remains stable thereafter.

Professor Roger Dixon, the report's co-author, said that people with serious cases of type 2 diabetes should be screened for these cognitive effects to make sure they get the right medication and advice on diet or mental training.

"There could be some ways to compensate for these declines, at least early and with proper management," he said.

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